"Sunny," an orange and white neutered male cat, will meet prospective adopting families at Strays & Others' Cat Adoption Event on May 2 at Best Friends Pet Care in Norwalk
Strays & Others, Inc. will sponsor a “Yesterday’s Kittens” Pet Adoption opportunity from11 a.m. - 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 2, at Best Friends Pet Care, 528 Main Avenue (route 7) in Norwalk, directly next door to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Dozens of cats of all ages and colors will be available to meet potential adopters. The event celebrates the annual, national “Be Kind to Animals Week.”
“We are urging Fairfield County residents who are thinking about bringing a pet into their home to consider adopting one of the more than 40 cats for whom we are caring,” said Claudia Weber, president and founder of Strays & Others. “At our special Be Kind to Animals Week adoption event, people can informally meet cats of all ages and colors, ask questions about their personalities and backgrounds, and hopefully begin the process of adoption. We know our animals well, and our goal is to match people and pets with complimentary personalities in fulfilling, life-time adoptions,” she remarked.
“Sometimes people want a kitten so they can train it, but a feline is actually highly trainable at any age,” Ms. Weber observed. “By adopting a young adult cat, adopters can skip the ‘terrible twos’ and, at the same time, avoid about $600 in veterinary expenses that kittens typically incur for spaying or neutering, vaccinations and complete medical care. Our cats are completely checked out by our vets, providing confidence to families about their new pet’s health. Another added bonus is that our cats are pre-trained to use scratching or sisal posts. Small things like that can really matter!” she said.
“Sadly, in recent months we’ve seen an epidemic of cats being abandoned in our area; we suspect their former families may have fallen on hard times. Often these pets are dropped off in more affluent communities, perhaps because people believe they have a better chance of finding someone to care for them. Surprisingly, the cats our volunteers have recently rescued are friendly, outgoing, family-oriented animals who are often comfortable around both children and dogs,” Ms. Weber remarked. “We also have several cats recovering from abusive situations who are now more trusting, thanks to the loving attention and handling by our volunteers. Our goal has been to teach them that it’s okay to purr again! These lonely orphans desperately need kind and gentle homes,” she added.
“‘Sunny’, a young, orange and white neutered male cat, is among the many animals who have found themselves homeless during these difficult economic times. Our volunteers rescued him from someone’s backyard, where a coyote was believed to have been stalking a meal. Sunny is very eager to make friends with both children and dogs. He is well adjusted, loving, and deserves a good home,” Ms. Weber added.
“With limited space and financial resources to care for these abandoned and orphaned animals, adoption is an important way that people in the community can support our work. For those who are not able to adopt an animal, donations provide crucial help in defraying some of the expenses of caring for these homeless waifs – for example, spaying and neutering, necessary medical care, and possible boarding – while we search for a forever home,” she remarked.
Strays & Others, Inc., known both for its unusual success in matching homeless cats, dogs and other animals with adoptive homes, as well as for its community-based programs to educate and assist pet owners, receives close to 5000 calls a year from people who need assistance. Since its founding in 1985, Strays & Others has provided medical care, vaccinations, spaying and neutering for more than 4200 animals rescued from homelessness. Strays & Others also operates a low-cost Spay/Neuter program and offers information and referrals on a variety of pet-related topics and concerns, including how to locate lost pets.
For information about Strays & Others' programs and pets available for adoption, visit Strays & Others on the Internet at www.straysandothers.petfinder.com or call (203) 966-6556.
